Who Are the Richest Football Managers in the World?

Who Are the Richest Football Managers in the World in 2025?

From legendary players turned tacticians to sideline generals who built empires from the dugout, the richest football managers of 2025 show that coaching isn’t just about tactics, it’s big business.

Salaries, endorsements, investments, and even severance payouts have pushed some managers into fortunes you’d expect from superstar players.

Here’s the full countdown, from the lowest to the very top.

10. Unai Emery – £8.24 million

Unai Emery might not swim in the same financial waters as his peers, but his career has been one of persistence and consistency.

This season will be Unai Emery's 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇 consecutive season managing a team in a European competition 📊#AVFC pic.twitter.com/pOwV10gfom

— Aston Villa Statto (@AVFCStatto) September 24, 2025

With four [Europa League](https://footballpark.com/betting/predictions/uefa-europa-league) titles under his belt and a rejuvenated Aston Villa now rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite, Emery’s steady approach has earned him a fortune of £8.24 million. It’s proof that tactical sharpness, not just fame, can bring long-term rewards.

9. Carlo Ancelotti – £38.5 million

Carlo Ancelotti is football’s calm conductor, a man who has lifted five Champions League titles as a manager. With a career spanning AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern, and Real Madrid, he’s now leading Brazil’s national team.

Between his playing career earnings and a hefty £9.6m annual salary at Real Madrid, Ancelotti’s fortune sits at £38.5 million. A gentleman of the game, but no stranger to big paydays.

8. Jürgen Klopp – £38.5 million

Level with Ancelotti is Jürgen Klopp, who turned Liverpool from nearly-men into Champions League and Premier League champions.

His emotional farewell at Anfield in 2024 marked the end of an era, but his transition to a Red Bull Global role keeps the income flowing. At his Liverpool peak, Klopp earned £15m per year, and with book deals and media work, his net worth has reached £38.5 million.

7. Sir Alex Ferguson – £53.9 million

Though retired since 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson remains a towering figure in football. His 27-year reign at Manchester United brought 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, and a global legacy.

🚨Played through different systems and changes — Never signed a player for more than £42m

Won the Premier League with a retired Paul Scholes at Manchester United — Lost Cristiano Ronaldo and still dominated the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson incomparable and unmatched! pic.twitter.com/R1duDuvv2f

— Manchester United Forever (@Utd_Forever7) September 20, 2025

Beyond football, Ferguson continues to rake in earnings from books, speaking engagements, and horse racing investments, giving him a net worth of £53.9 million. Even in retirement, the richest retired manager still casts a long shadow.

6. Steven Gerrard – £69.3 million

Steven Gerrard may not have hit managerial gold on the pitch, but off it, he’s still striking financial success. His Liverpool playing career was lucrative, and his time at Rangers and Al-Ettifaq added healthy salaries, with the Saudi stint paying £2.5m per year.

Add endorsements and smart investments, and Gerrard’s net worth sits at £69.3 million. A reminder that some legends stay wealthy even if their dugout journey has bumps.

5. Pep Guardiola – £77 million

Pep Guardiola is football’s tactical revolutionary, and he’s been rewarded handsomely for it. His dynasties at Barcelona, Bayern, and Manchester City earned him a £20.7m annual salary and countless bonuses.

Add endorsements and a reputation as one of the greatest managers of all time, and his fortune now stands at £77 million. Beautiful football, beautiful bank account.

4. José Mourinho – £77 million

Tied with Pep, the “Special One” is as famous for his off-field earnings as his on-field triumphs. With multiple Champions League wins and contracts at Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, and United, Mourinho has pocketed around £60m in severance packages alone.

He’s back. 👀

25 years after his first spell, José Mourinho returns to the touchline at the Estádio da Luz with Benfica 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/Gfsst3kYuF

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 18, 2025

Now back in Portugal with Benfica on a £9.2m annual salary, Mourinho’s net worth sits at £77 million. If getting sacked was a sport, Mourinho would be world champion, and millionaire.

3. Zinedine Zidane – £92.4 million

Few managers have done more in less time than Zinedine Zidane. Three consecutive Champions League titles at Real Madrid cemented him as a managerial great.

Combined with his iconic playing career, endorsement deals, and a FIFA advisory role, Zidane’s wealth has grown to £92.4 million. He’s proof that both talent and timing can make a manager one of the richest in football history.

2. Diego Simeone – £107.8 million

The beating heart of Atlético Madrid, Diego Simeone has built his fortune on loyalty and grit. His fiery tenure has brought two La Liga titles, countless Champions League runs, and one of the highest managerial salaries in the world—£26m per year.

Add loyalty bonuses and trophies, and his net worth has soared to £107.8 million. For passion and paychecks, Simeone is unmatched in La Liga.

1. Wayne Rooney – £160 million

Yes, you read that right, Wayne Rooney tops the list. Now managing Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Championship, Rooney’s fortune stems less from managerial salaries and more from his legendary Manchester United playing career, Nike endorsements, punditry, and coaching roles.

Wayne Rooney is being disrespected because he hasn't been successful as a coach.

As a footballer, if Wayne Rooney says he's better than you, he's most definitely better than you.

— fola (@longlivefola) June 13, 2025

His net worth of £160 million makes him the richest football manager in the world in 2025. Even if his touchline record is patchy, his financial legacy is undeniable.

Final Word

From Unai Emery’s modest millions to Wayne Rooney’s staggering fortune, the richest football managers in 2025 prove that the dugout is as much about business as it is about tactics. Whether it’s long-term loyalty like Simeone, tactical brilliance like Pep, or sheer star power like Rooney, the modern manager is both coach and CEO.